Cardinal Terrazas encourages Bolivians to evangelize with courage

La Paz, Bolivia, Jun 2, 2009 / 19:23 pm

During the launching of the Permanent Mission in Bolivia, the Archbishop of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Cardinal Julio Terrazas Sandoval, called on Catholics to proclaim the faith “with courage, generosity and creativity,” under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

In his homily, the cardinal reminded the faithful that it is the Holy Spirit who guides us towards the full truth, and “that is the purpose of the Permanent Mission.”

“He wishes to guide us towards the truth, that truth that will make us courageous in confessing our God. That is what we must strive for during this entire missionary work until we truly become a people that believes in the Lord of life and that never serves the gods of death,” he added.

The cardinal went on to remind Catholics that there are “still great challenges to be met in Bolivia,” such as poverty, violence and abuse. He invited the faithful to work to eradicate these problems and to give an example to those responsible for administering justice that they must be “respectful, respectful of all, even of those who have fallen.”

At the conclusion of the celebration, Cardinal Terrazas gave each regional leader of the mission a copy of the medal with the image of Christ “which the Pope gave to the bishops at Aparecida.”

“In the center is the risen Christ,” he said, “who is the cause of our joy. This must be taken to our parishes, to each home, to each group, to wherever the Lord has called us to work for his kingdom,” he added.